Performance dates:    July 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23 @ 8:00 PM      July 16, 17, 23, 24 @ 3:00 (afternoon matinee)

Tickets:  $10.00 Adults ...  $7.00 Students 18 and under.

This heartwarming classic French fairytale is directed by Dara Pickren-Davis and produced by Beatrice Soler, both long time participants in the summer workshops.  Jessica Gibbs, also a graduate of summer workshops, is choreographer and Beverly Fetter is Accompanist, with Anne Horn working as the show’s Music Supervisor.

Known for its enchanting story, beautiful music (“Be Our Guest”, “Beauty and the Beast”) and magical settings, “Beauty and the Beast” has attracted over 70 young people from ages 8 to 18 to the Island Players stage. The show is double cast.

Belle (played by 2011 Scholarship Recipients Leah Seay and Ellen Boyett) is misunderstood by everyone in the little village she comes from. She wants “so much more than they’ve got planned!” Villagers including her pursuer, the evil, egotistical villan Gaston (Brendan Kohler, Alec Smith), his henchman Lefou (Brian Kohler, Seth Lynch-Stanley) and townspeople find her “most peculiar”.

When Belle’s father (Jonathan Whalley, Caleb Kavanaugh) disappears, she goes in search and travels to a hidden castle where a young spoiled prince has been transformed into a Beast( Jesse Patterson, Cormac Kavanaugh) many years ago  by an enchantress who saw no love in his heart. The Beast’s castle is inhabited by his transformed staff: Lumiere the candelabra (Alec Smith, Logan Lim); Cogsworth the clock (Kyle Hildebrand, Spencer Collins); maid/featherduster (Katie Perry, Kaitlyn Shea); Mrs. Potts the teapot (Lindsey Smith) and daughter, teacup Chip (Bailey Wiggins, Shae Johnson); Madame de la Grand Bouche the wardrobe (Michaela Soler, Kourtney Smith) and animated plates, napkins, spoons and other enchanted objects.

…If the Beast can learn to love another and earn love in return by the time the last rose petal falls, the spell will be broken. Will Belle, who is the Beast’s captive, learn to love him? Will she set them free or will Gaston’s plan to marry Belle succeed?